Sixth Skandha · Chapter 8
Sourceव्यास उवाच नहुषस्त्वथ तां श्रुत्वा गुरोस्तु शरणं गताम् । चुक्रोध स्मरबाणार्तस्तमाङ्गिरसमाशु वै ॥ १ ॥ देवानाहाङ्गिरासूनुर्हन्तव्योऽयं मया किल । इतीन्द्राणीं गृहे मूढो रक्षतीति मया श्रुतम् ॥ २ ॥ इति तं कुपितं दृष्ट्वा देवाः सर्षिपुरोगमाः । अब्रुवन्नहुषं घोरं सामपूर्वं वचस्तदा ॥ ३ ॥ क्रोधं संहर राजेन्द्र त्यज पापमतिं प्रभो । निन्दन्ति धर्मशास्त्रेषु परदाराभिमर्शनम् ॥ ४ ॥ शक्रपत्नी सदा साध्वी जीवमाने पतौ पुनः । कथमन्ये पतिं कुर्यात्सुभगातिपतिव्रता ॥ ५ ॥ त्रिलोकीशस्त्वमधुना शास्ता धर्मस्य वै विभो । त्वादृशोऽधर्ममातिष्ठेत्तदा नश्येत्प्रजा ध्रुवम् ॥ ६ ॥ सर्वथा प्रभुणा कार्यं शिष्टाचारस्य रक्षणम् । वारमुख्याश्च शतशो वर्तन्तेऽत्र शचीसमाः ॥ ७ ॥ रतिस्तु कारणं प्रोक्तं शृङ्गारस्य महात्मभिः । रसहानिर्बलात्कारे कृते सति तु जायते ॥ ८ ॥ उभयोः सदृशं प्रेम यदि पार्थिवसत्तम । तदा वै सुखसम्पत्तिरुभयोरुपजायते ॥ ९ ॥ तस्माद्भावमिमं मुञ्च परदाराभिमर्शने । सद्भावं कुरु देवेन्द्र पदं प्राप्तोऽस्यनुत्तमम् ॥ १० ॥ ऋद्धिक्षयस्तु पापेन पुण्येनातिविवर्धनम् । तस्मात्पापं परित्यज्य सन्मतिं कुरु पार्थिव ॥ ११ ॥ नहुष उवाच गौतमस्य यदा भुक्ता दाराः शक्रेण देवताः । वाचस्पतेस्तु सोमेन क्व यूयं संस्थितास्तदा ॥ १२ ॥ परोपदेशे कुशला प्रभवन्ति नराः किल । कर्ता चैवोपदेष्टा च दुर्लभः पुरुषो भवेत् ॥ १३ ॥ मामागच्छतु सा देवी हितं स्यादद्भुतं हि वः । एतस्याः परमं देवाः सुखमेव भविष्यति ॥ १४ ॥ अन्यथा न हि तुष्येऽहं सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि वः । विनयाद्वा बलाद्वापि तामाशु प्रापयन्त्विह ॥ १५ ॥ इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा देवाश्च मुनयस्तथा । तमूचुश्चातिसन्त्रस्ता नहुषं मदनातुरम् ॥ १६ ॥ इन्द्राणीमानयिष्यामः सामपूर्वं तवान्तिकम् । इत्युक्त्वा ते तदा जग्मुर्बृहस्पतिनिकेतनम् ॥ १७ ॥ व्यास उवाच ते गत्वाङ्गिरसः पुत्रं प्रोचुः प्राञ्जलयः सुराः । जानीमः शरणं प्राप्तामिन्द्राणीं तव वेश्मनि ॥ १८ ॥ सा देया नहुषायाद्य वासवोऽसौ कृतो यतः । वृणोत्वियं वरारोहा पतित्वे वरवर्णिनी ॥ १९ ॥ बृहस्पतिः सुरानाह तच्छ्रुत्वा दारुणं वचः । नाहं त्यक्ष्ये तु पौलोमीं सतीं च शरणागताम् ॥ २० ॥ देवा ऊचुः उपायोऽन्यः प्रकर्तव्यो येन सोऽद्य प्रसीदति । अन्यथा कोपसंयुक्तो दुराराध्यो भविष्यति ॥ २१ ॥ गुरुरुवाच तत्र गत्वा शची भूपं प्रलोभ्य वचसा भृशम् । करोतु समयं बाला पतिं ज्ञात्वा मृतं भजे ॥ २२ ॥ इन्द्रे जीवति मे कान्ते कथमन्यं करोम्यहम् । अन्वेषणार्थं गन्तव्यं मया तस्य महात्मनः ॥ २३ ॥ इति सा समयं कृत्वा वञ्चयित्वा च भूपतिम् । भर्तुरानयने यत्नं करोतु मम वाक्यतः ॥ २४ ॥ इति सञ्चिन्त्य मे सर्वे बृहस्पतिपुरोगमाः । नहुषं सहिता जग्मुरिन्द्रपत्न्या दिवौकसः ॥ २५ ॥ तानागतान्ममीक्ष्याह तदा कृत्रिमवासवः । जहर्ष च मुदायुक्तस्तां वीक्ष्य मुदितोऽब्रवीत् ॥ २६ ॥ अद्यास्मि वासवः कान्ते भज मां चारुलोचने । पतित्वे सर्वलोकस्य पूज्योऽहं विहितः सुरैः ॥ २७ ॥ इत्युक्ता सा नृपं प्राह वेपमाना त्रपायुता । वरमिच्छाम्यहं राजंस्त्वत्तः प्राप्तं सुरेश्वर ॥ २८ ॥ किञ्चित्कालं प्रतीक्षस्व यावत्कुर्वे विनिर्णयम् । इन्द्रोऽस्तीति न वास्तीति सन्देहो मे हृदि स्थितः ॥ २९ ॥ ततस्त्वां समुपस्थास्ये कृत्वा निश्चयमात्मनि । तावत्क्षमस्व राजेन्द्र सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥ ३० ॥ न हि विज्ञायते शक्रो नष्टः किं वा क्व वा गतः । एवमुक्तः स चेन्द्राण्या नहुषः प्रीतिमानभूत् ॥ ३१ ॥ व्यसर्जयत्स तां देवीं तथेत्युक्त्वा मुदान्वितः । सा विसृष्टा नृपेणाशु गत्वा प्राह सुरान्सती ॥ ३२ ॥ इन्द्रस्यागमने यत्नं कुरुताद्य कृतोद्यमाः । श्रुत्वा तद्वचनं देवा इन्द्राण्या रसवच्छुचि ॥ ३३ ॥ मन्त्रयामासुरेकाग्राः शक्रार्थं नृपसत्तम । ते गत्वा वैष्णवं धाम तुष्टुवुः परमेश्वरम् ॥ ३४ ॥ आदिदेवं जगन्नाथं शरणागतवत्सलम् । ऊचुश्चैनं समुद्विग्ना वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदाः ॥ ३५ ॥ देवदेव सुरपतिर्ब्रह्महत्याप्रपीडितः । अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानां क्वापि तिष्ठति वासवः ॥ ३६ ॥ त्वद्धिया निहते विप्रे ब्रह्महत्या कुतः प्रभो । त्वं गतिस्तस्य भगवन्नस्माकं च तथैव हि ॥ ३७ ॥ त्राहि नः परमापन्नान्मोक्षं तस्य विनिर्दिश । देवानां वचनं श्रुत्वा कातरं विष्णुरब्रवीत् ॥ ३८ ॥ यजतामश्वमेधेन शक्रपापनिवृत्तये । पुण्येन हयमेधेन पावितः पाकशासनः ॥ ३९ ॥ पुनरेष्यति देवानामिन्द्रत्वमकुतोभयः । हयमेधेन सन्तुष्टा देवी श्रीजगदम्बिका ॥ ४० ॥ ब्रह्महत्यादिपापानि नाशयिष्यत्यसंशयम् । यस्याः स्मरणमात्रेण पापजालं विनश्यति ॥ ४१ ॥ किं पुनर्वाजिमेधेन तत्प्रीत्यर्थं कृतेन च । इन्द्राणी कुरुतान्नित्यं भगवत्याः प्रपूजनम् ॥ ४२ ॥ आराधनं शिवायास्तु सुखकारि भविष्यति । नहुषोऽपि जगन्मातुर्मायया मोहितः किल ॥ ४३ ॥ विनाशं स्वकृतेनाशु गमिष्यत्येनसा सुराः । पावितश्चाश्वमेधेन तुराषाडपि वैभवम् ॥ ४४ ॥ प्राप्स्यत्यचिरकालेन स्वमासनमनुत्तमम् । ते तु श्रुत्वा शुभां वाणीं विष्णोरमिततेजसः ॥ ४५ ॥ जग्मुस्तं देशमनिशं यत्रास्ते पाकशासनः । तमाश्वास्य सुराः शक्रं बृहस्पतिपुरोगमाः ॥ ४६ ॥ कारयामासुरखिलं हयमेधं महाक्रतुम् । विभज्य ब्रह्महत्यां तु वृक्षेषु च नदीषु च ॥ ४७ ॥ पर्वतेषु पृथिव्यां च स्त्रीषु चैवाक्षिपद्विभुः । तां विसृज्य च भूतेषु विपापः पाकशासनः ॥ ४८ ॥ विज्वरः समभूद्भूयः कालाकाङ्क्षी स्थितो जले । अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानां पद्मनाले व्यतिष्ठत ॥ ४९ ॥ देवास्तु निर्गताः स्थाने कृत्वा कार्यं तदद्भुतम् । पौलोमी तु गुरुं प्राह दुःखिता विरहाकुला ॥ ५० ॥ कृतयज्ञोऽपि मे भर्ता किमदृश्यः पुरन्दरः । कथं द्रक्ष्ये प्रियं स्वामिंस्तमुपायं वदस्व मे ॥ ५१ ॥ बृहस्पतिरुवाच त्वमाराधय पौलोमि देवीं भगवतीं शिवाम् । दर्शयिष्यति ते नाथं देवी विगतकल्मषम् ॥ ५२ ॥ आराधिता जगद्धात्री नहुषं वारयिष्यति । मोहयित्वा नृपं स्थानात्पातयिष्यति चाम्बिका ॥ ५३ ॥ इत्युक्ता सा तदा तेन पुलोमतनया नृप । जग्राह मन्त्रं विधिवद्गुरोर्देव्याः ससाधनम् ॥ ५४ ॥ विद्यां प्राप्य गुरोर्देवी देवीं श्रीभुवनेश्वरीम् । सम्यगाराधयामास बलिपुष्पार्चनैः शुभै ॥ ५५ ॥ त्यक्तान्यभोगसम्भारा तापसीवेषधारिणी । चकार पूजनं देव्याः प्रियदर्शनलालसा ॥ ५६ ॥ कालेन कियता तुष्टा प्रत्यक्षं दर्शनं ददौ । सौम्यरूपधरा देवी वरदा हंसवाहिनी ॥ ५७ ॥ सूर्यकोटिप्रतीकाशा चन्द्रकोटिसुशीतला । विद्युत्कोटिसमानाभा चतुर्वेदसमन्विता ॥ ५८ ॥ पाशांकुशाभयवरान्दधती निजबाहुभिः । आपादलम्बिनीं स्वच्छां मुक्तामालां च बिभ्रती ॥ ५९ ॥ प्रसन्तस्मेरवदना लोचनत्रयभूषिता । आब्रह्मकीटजननी करुणामृतसागरा ॥ ६० ॥ अनन्तकोटिब्रह्माण्डनायिका परमेश्वरी । सौम्यानन्तरसैर्युक्तस्तनद्वयविराजिता ॥ ६१ ॥ सर्वेश्वरी च सर्वज्ञा कूटस्थाक्षररूपिणी । तामुवाच प्रसन्ना सा शक्रपत्नीं कृतोद्यमाम् ॥ ६२ ॥ मेघगम्भीरशब्देन मुदमाददती भृशम् । देव्युवाच वरं वरय सुश्रोणि वाञ्छितं शक्रवल्लभे ॥ ६३ ॥ ददाम्यद्य प्रसन्नास्मि पूजिता सुभृशं त्वया । वरदाहं समायाता दर्शनं सहजं न मे ॥ ६४ ॥ अनेककोटिजन्मोत्थपुण्यपुञ्जैर्हि लभ्यते । इत्युक्ता सा तदा देवी तामाह प्रणता पुरः ॥ ६५ ॥ शक्रपत्नी भगवतीं प्रसन्नां परमेश्वरीम् । वाञ्छामि दर्शनं मातः पत्युः परमदुर्लभम् ॥ ६६ ॥ नहुषाद्भयनाशं च स्वपदप्रापणं तथा । देव्युवाच गच्छ त्वमनया दूत्या सार्धं श्रीमानसं सरः ॥ ६७ ॥ यत्र मे मूर्तिरचला विश्वकामाभिधा मता । तत्र पश्यसि शक्रं त्वं दुःखितं भयविह्वलम् ॥ ६८ ॥ मोहयिष्यामि राजानं कालेन कियता पुनः । स्वस्था भव विशालाक्षि करोमि तव चेप्सितम् ॥ ६९ ॥ भ्रंशयिष्यामि भूपालं मोहितं त्रिदशासनात् । व्यास उवाच देवीदूती तां गृहीत्वा शक्रपत्नीं त्वरान्विता ॥ ७० ॥ प्रापयामास सान्निध्यं स्वपत्युः परमेश्वरीम् । सा दृष्ट्वा तं पतिं बाला सुरेशं गुप्तसंस्थितम् । मुदिताभूद्वरं वीक्ष्य बहुकालाभिवाञ्छितम् ॥ ७१ ॥
vyāsa uvāca nahuṣastvatha tāṃ śrutvā gurostu śaraṇaṃ gatām | cukrodha smarabāṇārtastamāṅgirasamāśu vai || 1 || devānāhāṅgirāsūnurhantavyo'yaṃ mayā kila | itīndrāṇīṃ gṛhe mūḍho rakṣatīti mayā śrutam || 2 || iti taṃ kupitaṃ dṛṣṭvā devāḥ sarṣipurogamāḥ | abruvannahuṣaṃ ghoraṃ sāmapūrvaṃ vacastadā || 3 || krodhaṃ saṃhara rājendra tyaja pāpamatiṃ prabho | nindanti dharmaśāstreṣu paradārābhimarśanam || 4 || śakrapatnī sadā sādhvī jīvamāne patau punaḥ | kathamanye patiṃ kuryātsubhagātipativratā || 5 || trilokīśastvamadhunā śāstā dharmasya vai vibho | tvādṛśo'dharmamātiṣṭhettadā naśyetprajā dhruvam || 6 || sarvathā prabhuṇā kāryaṃ śiṣṭācārasya rakṣaṇam | vāramukhyāśca śataśo vartante'tra śacīsamāḥ || 7 || ratistu kāraṇaṃ proktaṃ śṛṅgārasya mahātmabhiḥ | rasahānirbalātkāre kṛte sati tu jāyate || 8 || ubhayoḥ sadṛśaṃ prema yadi pārthivasattama | tadā vai sukhasampattirubhayorupajāyate || 9 || tasmādbhāvamimaṃ muñca paradārābhimarśane | sadbhāvaṃ kuru devendra padaṃ prāpto'syanuttamam || 10 || ṛddhikṣayastu pāpena puṇyenātivivardhanam | tasmātpāpaṃ parityajya sanmatiṃ kuru pārthiva || 11 || nahuṣa uvāca gautamasya yadā bhuktā dārāḥ śakreṇa devatāḥ | vācaspatestu somena kva yūyaṃ saṃsthitāstadā || 12 || paropadeśe kuśalā prabhavanti narāḥ kila | kartā caivopadeṣṭā ca durlabhaḥ puruṣo bhavet || 13 || māmāgacchatu sā devī hitaṃ syādadbhutaṃ hi vaḥ | etasyāḥ paramaṃ devāḥ sukhameva bhaviṣyati || 14 || anyathā na hi tuṣye'haṃ satyametadbravīmi vaḥ | vinayādvā balādvāpi tāmāśu prāpayantviha || 15 || iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā devāśca munayastathā | tamūcuścātisantrastā nahuṣaṃ madanāturam || 16 || indrāṇīmānayiṣyāmaḥ sāmapūrvaṃ tavāntikam | ityuktvā te tadā jagmurbṛhaspatiniketanam || 17 || vyāsa uvāca te gatvāṅgirasaḥ putraṃ procuḥ prāñjalayaḥ surāḥ | jānīmaḥ śaraṇaṃ prāptāmindrāṇīṃ tava veśmani || 18 || sā deyā nahuṣāyādya vāsavo'sau kṛto yataḥ | vṛṇotviyaṃ varārohā patitve varavarṇinī || 19 || bṛhaspatiḥ surānāha tacchrutvā dāruṇaṃ vacaḥ | nāhaṃ tyakṣye tu paulomīṃ satīṃ ca śaraṇāgatām || 20 || devā ūcuḥ upāyo'nyaḥ prakartavyo yena so'dya prasīdati | anyathā kopasaṃyukto durārādhyo bhaviṣyati || 21 || gururuvāca tatra gatvā śacī bhūpaṃ pralobhya vacasā bhṛśam | karotu samayaṃ bālā patiṃ jñātvā mṛtaṃ bhaje || 22 || indre jīvati me kānte kathamanyaṃ karomyaham | anveṣaṇārthaṃ gantavyaṃ mayā tasya mahātmanaḥ || 23 || iti sā samayaṃ kṛtvā vañcayitvā ca bhūpatim | bharturānayane yatnaṃ karotu mama vākyataḥ || 24 || iti sañcintya me sarve bṛhaspatipurogamāḥ | nahuṣaṃ sahitā jagmurindrapatnyā divaukasaḥ || 25 || tānāgatānmamīkṣyāha tadā kṛtrimavāsavaḥ | jaharṣa ca mudāyuktastāṃ vīkṣya mudito'bravīt || 26 || adyāsmi vāsavaḥ kānte bhaja māṃ cārulocane | patitve sarvalokasya pūjyo'haṃ vihitaḥ suraiḥ || 27 || ityuktā sā nṛpaṃ prāha vepamānā trapāyutā | varamicchāmyahaṃ rājaṃstvattaḥ prāptaṃ sureśvara || 28 || kiñcitkālaṃ pratīkṣasva yāvatkurve vinirṇayam | indro'stīti na vāstīti sandeho me hṛdi sthitaḥ || 29 || tatastvāṃ samupasthāsye kṛtvā niścayamātmani | tāvatkṣamasva rājendra satyametadbravīmi te || 30 || na hi vijñāyate śakro naṣṭaḥ kiṃ vā kva vā gataḥ | evamuktaḥ sa cendrāṇyā nahuṣaḥ prītimānabhūt || 31 || vyasarjayatsa tāṃ devīṃ tathetyuktvā mudānvitaḥ | sā visṛṣṭā nṛpeṇāśu gatvā prāha surānsatī || 32 || indrasyāgamane yatnaṃ kurutādya kṛtodyamāḥ | śrutvā tadvacanaṃ devā indrāṇyā rasavacchuci || 33 || mantrayāmāsurekāgrāḥ śakrārthaṃ nṛpasattama | te gatvā vaiṣṇavaṃ dhāma tuṣṭuvuḥ parameśvaram || 34 || ādidevaṃ jagannāthaṃ śaraṇāgatavatsalam | ūcuścainaṃ samudvignā vākyaṃ vākyaviśāradāḥ || 35 || devadeva surapatirbrahmahatyāprapīḍitaḥ | adṛśyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ kvāpi tiṣṭhati vāsavaḥ || 36 || tvaddhiyā nihate vipre brahmahatyā kutaḥ prabho | tvaṃ gatistasya bhagavannasmākaṃ ca tathaiva hi || 37 || trāhi naḥ paramāpannānmokṣaṃ tasya vinirdiśa | devānāṃ vacanaṃ śrutvā kātaraṃ viṣṇurabravīt || 38 || yajatāmaśvamedhena śakrapāpanivṛttaye | puṇyena hayamedhena pāvitaḥ pākaśāsanaḥ || 39 || punareṣyati devānāmindratvamakutobhayaḥ | hayamedhena santuṣṭā devī śrījagadambikā || 40 || brahmahatyādipāpāni nāśayiṣyatyasaṃśayam | yasyāḥ smaraṇamātreṇa pāpajālaṃ vinaśyati || 41 || kiṃ punarvājimedhena tatprītyarthaṃ kṛtena ca | indrāṇī kurutānnityaṃ bhagavatyāḥ prapūjanam || 42 || ārādhanaṃ śivāyāstu sukhakāri bhaviṣyati | nahuṣo'pi jaganmāturmāyayā mohitaḥ kila || 43 || vināśaṃ svakṛtenāśu gamiṣyatyenasā surāḥ | pāvitaścāśvamedhena turāṣāḍapi vaibhavam || 44 || prāpsyatyacirakālena svamāsanamanuttamam | te tu śrutvā śubhāṃ vāṇīṃ viṣṇoramitatejasaḥ || 45 || jagmustaṃ deśamaniśaṃ yatrāste pākaśāsanaḥ | tamāśvāsya surāḥ śakraṃ bṛhaspatipurogamāḥ || 46 || kārayāmāsurakhilaṃ hayamedhaṃ mahākratum | vibhajya brahmahatyāṃ tu vṛkṣeṣu ca nadīṣu ca || 47 || parvateṣu pṛthivyāṃ ca strīṣu caivākṣipadvibhuḥ | tāṃ visṛjya ca bhūteṣu vipāpaḥ pākaśāsanaḥ || 48 || vijvaraḥ samabhūdbhūyaḥ kālākāṅkṣī sthito jale | adṛśyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ padmanāle vyatiṣṭhata || 49 || devāstu nirgatāḥ sthāne kṛtvā kāryaṃ tadadbhutam | paulomī tu guruṃ prāha duḥkhitā virahākulā || 50 || kṛtayajño'pi me bhartā kimadṛśyaḥ purandaraḥ | kathaṃ drakṣye priyaṃ svāmiṃstamupāyaṃ vadasva me || 51 || bṛhaspatiruvāca tvamārādhaya paulomi devīṃ bhagavatīṃ śivām | darśayiṣyati te nāthaṃ devī vigatakalmaṣam || 52 || ārādhitā jagaddhātrī nahuṣaṃ vārayiṣyati | mohayitvā nṛpaṃ sthānātpātayiṣyati cāmbikā || 53 || ityuktā sā tadā tena pulomatanayā nṛpa | jagrāha mantraṃ vidhivadgurordevyāḥ sasādhanam || 54 || vidyāṃ prāpya gurordevī devīṃ śrībhuvaneśvarīm | samyagārādhayāmāsa balipuṣpārcanaiḥ śubhai || 55 || tyaktānyabhogasambhārā tāpasīveṣadhāriṇī | cakāra pūjanaṃ devyāḥ priyadarśanalālasā || 56 || kālena kiyatā tuṣṭā pratyakṣaṃ darśanaṃ dadau | saumyarūpadharā devī varadā haṃsavāhinī || 57 || sūryakoṭipratīkāśā candrakoṭisuśītalā | vidyutkoṭisamānābhā caturvedasamanvitā || 58 || pāśāṃkuśābhayavarāndadhatī nijabāhubhiḥ | āpādalambinīṃ svacchāṃ muktāmālāṃ ca bibhratī || 59 || prasantasmeravadanā locanatrayabhūṣitā | ābrahmakīṭajananī karuṇāmṛtasāgarā || 60 || anantakoṭibrahmāṇḍanāyikā parameśvarī | saumyānantarasairyuktastanadvayavirājitā || 61 || sarveśvarī ca sarvajñā kūṭasthākṣararūpiṇī | tāmuvāca prasannā sā śakrapatnīṃ kṛtodyamām || 62 || meghagambhīraśabdena mudamādadatī bhṛśam | devyuvāca varaṃ varaya suśroṇi vāñchitaṃ śakravallabhe || 63 || dadāmyadya prasannāsmi pūjitā subhṛśaṃ tvayā | varadāhaṃ samāyātā darśanaṃ sahajaṃ na me || 64 || anekakoṭijanmotthapuṇyapuñjairhi labhyate | ityuktā sā tadā devī tāmāha praṇatā puraḥ || 65 || śakrapatnī bhagavatīṃ prasannāṃ parameśvarīm | vāñchāmi darśanaṃ mātaḥ patyuḥ paramadurlabham || 66 || nahuṣādbhayanāśaṃ ca svapadaprāpaṇaṃ tathā | devyuvāca gaccha tvamanayā dūtyā sārdhaṃ śrīmānasaṃ saraḥ || 67 || yatra me mūrtiracalā viśvakāmābhidhā matā | tatra paśyasi śakraṃ tvaṃ duḥkhitaṃ bhayavihvalam || 68 || mohayiṣyāmi rājānaṃ kālena kiyatā punaḥ | svasthā bhava viśālākṣi karomi tava cepsitam || 69 || bhraṃśayiṣyāmi bhūpālaṃ mohitaṃ tridaśāsanāt | vyāsa uvāca devīdūtī tāṃ gṛhītvā śakrapatnīṃ tvarānvitā || 70 || prāpayāmāsa sānnidhyaṃ svapatyuḥ parameśvarīm | sā dṛṣṭvā taṃ patiṃ bālā sureśaṃ guptasaṃsthitam | muditābhūdvaraṃ vīkṣya bahukālābhivāñchitam || 71 ||
English translation
1-11. Vyasa said O King! Hearing that the wife of Indra had taken refuge under Brihaspati, the King Nahusa became very angry towards Brihaspati and spoke to the Devas “ O Devas! I hear that the stupid son of Angirasa has given protection to Indra and has kept her in his house; I will therefore kill him quickly.” Seeing the terrible Nahusa thus angry, the Devas and Risis consoled him and said O King of kings! Do not be angry; quit this vicious motive yours. See, the Risis in all the Dharma S'astras, have declared the holding of illicit connection with other's wives as a very heinous crime and have blamed it very much. You can consider that the daughter of Puloma is always chaste, devoted to her husband and very good- natured. How can she, when her husband is alive, take another husband? O Lord! You are now the Lord of the three worlds and hence the Defender of Faith and Religion; and if a person like you act irreligiously, all the subjects will then go to annihilation. One who is a Lord should always observe the rules of good conduct. Besides there are many other celestial women in this Heaven as beautiful as S'achi; you can satisfy your thirst with them. Mutual love is recognised by the wise as the true originator of amorous dealings; ravishing a woman by force destroys all amorous sentiments. O King! And if the mutual love be similar and equal in all respects, then comes the true happiness; you have now got the post of Indra; therefore quit this idea of holding illicit connection with other's wives and indulge in other good thoughts. Demerits destroy prosperity and merits increase it. Therefore, O King! Leave all these bad thoughts and make your heart take a good turn and be happy.
12-15. Nahusa said “O Devas! Where were you all when Indra stole away the wife of Gautama and when the Moon stole away the wife of Brihaspati? It is easy to give advice to others but to act according to that is very rare in this world. O Devas! Let the qualified
Devi come to me you will derive much benefit from it and the Devi, too, will get Her highest happiness; there is no doubt in this. I tell you truly that in no other way I will be satisfied; bring Indrani here quickly, whether by good words or by force.”
16-17. The Devas and Munis heard the words of the king Nahusa, smitten by the Cupid's arrows, got terrified and said “We will bring Indrani to you by gentle words.” Saying thus, they went to the house of Brihaspati.
18-21. Vyasa said O King! The Devas, going to the house of Brihaspati, spoke thus with folded hands O Guru! We know that Indrani has taken shelter in your house; we will have to hand her over today to the king Nahusa for we all united have made over the post of Indra to Nahusa. Let this beautiful Lady now choose and worship him. Hearing these awful words of the Devas, Brihaspati said to them “O Devas! This chaste woman, devoted to her husband, has now taken my shelter; therefore I can never part with her.” The Devas said “O Guru! Kindly advise then - if you do not part with S'achi Devi - how the king Nahusa be pleased; if he becomes angry, it will then be very difficult to please him.”
22-31. Brihaspati said “O Devas! Let S'achi now go to Nahusa, and tempt him with enticing words and make this condition that when her husband's death will be known to her, she will then accept Nahusa as her husband. How could she accept another husband when her husband was alive. Therefore let her now go in quest of her high-souled husband. Let S'achi thus make condition with him and, thus deceiving him, let her try her best to bring back her husband. O King! Then, after coming to this conclusion, Brihaspati and other Devas went with Indrani to the king Nahusa. Seeing them come, especially looking at Indrani the artificial king Nahusa became
very glad and said to Indrani “O Beloved! Today I am become the real Indra. O beautiful-eyed One! Worship me as your husband; see the Devas now have made me to be worshipped by all the gods.” When Nahusa spoke thus, the Devi S'achi became filled with great shame; she began to tremble and said to the king “O Lord of the Devas! I desire to ask a boon from you. Better wait till I ascertain whether Indra is dead or alive, there is this doubt in my heart whether he lives or whether he is dead. O King of kings! Let me, first of all, clear my doubts. Kindly excuse me and wait till then. I tell this truly that after I ascertain the fact, I will worship you. I do not know anything whether Indra is dead or whether he has gone any where else.” When S'achi Devi spoke thus, Nahusa became very glad and saying “let it be so” dismissed her.
32-47. Thus having received permission from the King to depart, S'achi hurriedly went to the Devas and spoke to them to try their best to bring Indra back as soon as possible. O King! Hearing these sweet and holy words of Indrani the Devas intently consulted with each other how they could get back Indra. They then went to Vaikuntha and began to praise with hymns the original Deva, the God Visnu, the Lord of the Universe, kind to those that seek His refuge. The Devas, skilled in speaking, spoke to Visnu with a very troubled heart“O Lord! Indra, the Lord of the Devas, is very much troubled with his sin Brahmahattya. Where is he staying now, invisible to all the beings? O Lord! He is now overcome with the sin Brahmahattya by killing Vritra, the best of the Brahmins. We ask your skilful and intelligent advice. O Lord! You are the sole refuge of him as well as of us. We are now involved in a great difficulty. Kindly show us the way how we, as well as Indra, can get out of this difficult crisis.” Hearing the pitiful words of the Devas, Visnu said Let Indra perform the As'vamedha sacrifice (Horse sacrifice) for the purification of his sins. By this Yajha, that can destroy all sins, Indra will be purified and he will regain his Indraship; there is no doubt in this. The more so because the Devi, the Universal Mother, will be
pleased with his Horse sacrifice and will destroy all his sins, Brahmahattya and others. Lo! Merely remembering Her destroys heaps of sins; and, if by this Horse sacrifice. She be pleased, what wonder is there that sins of a more grave nature would be destroyed! And let Indrani worship Bhagavati daily; happiness will undoubtedly be gained by worshipping that most Auspicious One! By this the King Nahusa will be particularly deluded by the World Mother and will then be quickly destroyed by the sin committed by himself. And Indra, purified by AsVamedha, will soon regain his position and all his wealth. O king! Thus hearing the sweet beneficial words of Visnu of indomitable prowess, the Devas went to the spot, where resided Indra. Brihaspati and the other Devas consoled the distressed Indra and made him celebrate duly in right order, the Horse sacrifice the greatest of all sacrifices. Indra then distributed his sin Brahmahattya amongst the trees, rivers, mountains, women, and the earth.
48-51. Thus casting aside his sin on all the above things, Indra became again free from his sin, and, getting rid of his fever and uneasiness, abided by the time and remained there invisible in the tubular stem of the lotus. Doing that wonderful act, the Devas started from there and reached their own abodes. The daughter of Puloma, suffering from her bereavements from Indra, spoke then to Brihaspati with great sorrow “O Lord! Why is my husband still invisible to me, when he has performed the AsVamedha sacrifice? Kindly show me the way how I can get a sight of him.”
52-62. Brihaspati said “O Devi! Worship the most Auspicious Bhagavati; surely She will make your husband sinless and you will see him. The Devi Ambika, the Upholdress of the Universe, will desist the King Nahusa from doing the wrongful act and it is She that will delude him by Her Maya and get his downfall from the Heavens. O King! When Brihaspati spoke thus, S'achi Devi got initiated by him in the Devi Mantram, capable to secure success in any undertaking.
Thus getting the Mantram from her Guru, She began to worship the Devi Bhuvane'svari duly with flowers, sacrificial victims and other necessary articles for worship. Thus Indrani, with a view to see her husband, performed the worship of the Devi; she quitted all the articles of enjoyment and luxury and assumed the garb of an ascetic; thus some time passed away, when the Devi was pleased and appeared before her on the back of a Swan, in Her peaceful form, ready to grant boons to Indrani. She looked, then, fiery like thousands of Moons; Her lovely beauty appeared in rays like thousands and thousands of fixed lightnings. The four Vedas personified began to praise Her in hymns from the four sides. Her two hands were adorned with a noose and a goad, and Her two other hands made signs to grant boons and to discard all fear. The Vaijayanti garland of clear crystal-like gems suspended from Her neck up to Her feet. Her face was adorned with smiles and signs as if she would grant favours. She had three eyes and was the ocean of mercy and the Mother of all the Jivas from a worm up to Brahma.
Her two heavy breasts were filled with unbounded ocean of nectar¬ like juice of Peace and Mukti. She was the Goddess of innumerable worlds, the Goddess of all and the Highest, endowed with all the knowledges and the Incarnate of the Undecaying and Immoveable Brahma. The Devi, then, began to address S'achi, the wife of Indra, in pleasant words and in voice deep like a rolling thunder.
63-69. The Devi said O Darling to Indra! Better now ask your desired boon. I am much pleased with your worship. O Beautiful One! I have come here to grant you boon. To see Me is not an easy task; by the collected merits, acquired in thousands and thousands of births one is able to See Me. Hearing the words of the Devi,
S'achi Devi, the wife of Indra, fell prostrate before Her feet and began to speak to the Highest Goddess, the Bhagavati, Who seemed graciously pleased “O Mother! I now desire from Thee, that I may see my husband whom I attained after great difficulty, that I be freed from the fear arising out of King Nahusa and I want that
Indra be reinstated as Indra as he was before.” The Devi said “O Lady of the Devas! Better go with this My messenger (Duti) to Manasarovara; there is installed My fixed form, named VisVakama. You will see your Indra staying there very sorrowful and overwhelmed with terror. I will delude the King Nahusa within a very short period. O large-eyed One! Be calm and quiet; I will fulfil your desires; soon I will delude that king and deprive him of the seat of Indra.”
70-71. Vyasa said The wife of Indra accompanied the messenger of the Devi and quickly reached the presence of her husband Indra. She was very pleased to see her long-wished for husband, in the state disguise.
Here ends the Eighth Chapter of the Sixth Book on the praising of the Bhagavati by the wife of Indra and on getting the sight of Indra in the Mahapuranam, S'ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 25323, revision 76782 (2016-08-27T22:28:25Z). English is Swami Vijñanananda’s complete 1921–23 public-domain translation, controlled against the archival OCR and its chapter page at https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk06ch08.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.